I have a guest blog post where I talk about my science fiction series Chronicles of Arcon.
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/003-inside-emotion-of-fiction-exodus.html
Tag Archives: The Chronicals of Arcon
Vlog: Writing Matters
Here’s my Youtube Vlog: Writing Matters
Writing Matters
By Janice Seagraves
When we write, everything matters. From sentence structure to what our characters are eating and drinking.
It has to happen in the proper order or it won’t make sense. And if it doesn’t make sense then it won’t make sense to your readers.
I was watching Malibu Country with Reba McEntire (I love anything Reba is in). In a scene where she talked to her Mamma, I started watching what Reba was doing. Reba picked up a mug and added a tea bag. I could see that little square that hung over the edge of her mug. She added hot water. Walked around. Took a sip, then another. Talked some more and drank more tea. Half her cup seemed to be empty, before she walked back to the counter and added sugar.
Do you see what was wrong here? Reba did something out of order. She’s such a pro that this struck me as odd.
One of the things I check for in the final read through of my writing, is what my characters are doing. Is it logical? Does it make sense? Is it in the right order? Are they adding the milk to the cereal, or cereal to the milk?
One of my daughter’s old PBS cartoons she used to watch had been really bad about doing things that defied logic. Characters would talk with a fork still in their mouths. Really? Wouldn’t that break their teeth?
Have you ever noticed something that happened in a book, movie or your child’s cartoon that didn’t make sense?
Alien Heart, the first of a whole new SF series.
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Heart-Chronicles-Arcon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0N73OF/
Blurb: Divorcee and single mom, hardworking Audrey Westberry is the host of a cable TV show called Miz Fixit.
Romance was the last thing on Audrey’s mind when two handsome extraterrestrials join the audience of her show.
Soon Audrey finds out a single word “mated” has different meaning when you are born a galaxy away. After a wonderful night of passion, Audrey finds herself far from home, impregnated and her life turned upside down.
Will she ever be able to leave the alien compound, see her son again, or get home in time to film the fall season of her Miz Fixit show?
But what’s a girl to do with two aliens that smell like candy, and their kisses taste like it, too?
| Excerpt: “Good show, everyone.” Derek, the director, walked through the dressing room. “So Audrey, how are you going to spend your summer hiatus?” Tall, dark-haired, with hazel eyes, and oh so married. He leaned on her chair and looked into the mirror at Audrey.“Oh hi, Derek.” Kendra made eyes at him again.Audrey frowned at her. If his wife ever saw her do that, she’d go ballistic.
To Audrey he was just a dear friend and director, who’d guided her through the complexity of cable television. “I was going to spend it with my son, but I got a call from my ex. Tony is going away to camp for eight weeks.” “Camp?” He blinked in surprise. “Whose idea was that?” “Tony and his best friend decided they wanted to go. My ex put him on the phone, so he could tell me.” “Ouch.” Derek pulled down the corners of his mouth. “Best friend one, mom zero.” “Yeah,” Audrey sighed, still feeling the sting of rejection. “He’s at an age now when friends are more important than mommy.” “And, this is the dressing room where our star puts on her makeup for the camera.” Fox Watanabe, Audrey’s agent, was nattily dressed. His straight midnight hair and dark eyes marked him as pure Native American. He seemed to be acting as a tour guide to the aliens. A cameraman entered the dressing room ahead of the aliens, walking backward as he snapped pictures. Audrey grimaced. God, what’s Fox doing now? “The aliens look like elves,” Derek muttered under his breath. “Yeah, they do.” Audrey noticed their pointed ears and long faces. “They could’ve played extras on the Lord of the Ring movies.” “Got to go, things to do.” Derek headed toward the exit, but he slowed, and his back stiffened as he got near her agent. Audrey tensed. Please don’t let them get into another argument over me. “Fox.” “This is our little show’s director, Derek Alcorn.” Fox gestured toward him. “Nice to meet you.” Derek gave a nod to the aliens. “I’ve got to button up the set.” He hurried out of the room. Fox turned back to the aliens. “He’s a busy man, lots of responsibilities.” Audrey let out a breath. Fox had once again ignored the subtle dig Derek’s quick exit meant. The show’s director didn’t like chitchat, but he hated her agent even more. “They have three penises each,” Kendra whispered in Audrey’s ear. She used a soaked cotton ball and ran it over the side of Audrey’s face to clean off the makeup. Audrey turned to stare at her. “What?” Kendra pinched Audrey’s chin, moving her head over to clean the other side. “I saw a picture on the internet.” She whispered, “Two long ones and a little one. It makes you wonder what their women look like down there.” Audrey licked her lips, trying to imagine the male aliens naked. Would their equipment look like my favorite toy? Kendra moved back and smiled. “All done.” Fox walked over to her, with the aliens in tow. “Here’s our Miz Fixit, Audrey Westberry.” God, what a thing to tell me, just before I’m introduced to them. “How do you do?” Standing, Audrey held out her hand and tried not to glance at their crotches. ———————————————— |
| https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Heart-Chronicles-Arcon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0N73OF/ |
Blog Post
It was my turn to post on Romance Books “4” Us blog.
I posted about creating the Arcon’s living Goddess.
Authors in Bloom Blog Hop
If you’re looking for the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop then you have found it.
*Read to the end for the prize and grand prize information*
Hi, I’m Janice Seagraves. Author of romance stories in various genres.
I also love to garden too.
Photo taken by Janice Seagraves
This is from our Nectarine tree. It has the prettiest blooms I have ever seen.
Photo Taken by Janice Seagraves
This is blooms from an almond tree and looks just like blooms from a peach tree. That’s because they are actually derived from the same tree. Almonds are developed for their nut and Peaches for their fruit. Nectarines are also related to Peach trees, but their blooms are a darker pink and the fruit’s skin is smooth and has no fuzz.
Gardening tip: I also grow tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Most vegetables grow best in well-drained soil.
However, since I live in the Central Valley of California (South San Joaquin –Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern County), and it dryer here, (we just came out of a six-year drought), some of the things we do here might not be quite right for your region.
Like planting in a hole.
Recently I and my family moved into town. I have a raised bed for my garden and I’m only allowed to water twice a week.
Water is a big issue, so I found planting in a hole will keep the soil around my plant’s roots moist. Everything else is mulch as much as possible to help hold in the moisture.
As you can hopefully see from the photos of my garden, my peppers and tomatoes are all planted into holes and staked. Staking I also recommend, since it will keep your plant up out of the dirt, your fruit clean, and viruses like the Mosaic leaf virus at bay.
Since this is a book blog hop, I’ll also post a blurb and excerpt from my last book, Alien Heart.
And there is a garden in it. 🙂
Blurb: Divorcee and single mom, hardworking Audrey Westberry is the host of a cable TV show called Miz Fixit.
Romance was the last thing on Audrey’s mind when two handsome extraterrestrials join the audience of her show.
Soon Audrey finds out a single word “mated” has different meaning when you are born a galaxy away. After a wonderful night of passion, Audrey finds herself far from home, impregnated and her life turned upside down.
Will she ever be able to leave the alien compound, see her son again, or get home in time to film the fall season of her Miz Fixit show?
But what’s a girl to do with two aliens that smell like candy, and their kisses taste like it, too?
Excerpt:
“Greetings,” said the tall man on her stoop, with a delightfully deep voice and a slight English lilt.
He wore blue jeans and a dark purple long-sleeved shirt. He had one of those legionnaire’s caps with a piece of cloth that covered the back of the head and his ears. A pair of wraparound sunglasses hid his eyes. The only clue to his identity was the hint of lavender in the hollow of his neck and cheeks, which the reflection of the shirt couldn’t account for.
“Keefe?”
He slipped off his glasses as he grinned at her. “Yes, are you ready for our date?”
“Just about.” Letting him in, Audrey took a deep breath, taking his vanilla scent deeply into her lungs. Suddenly, she wanted to see his skin and had two of his buttons undone, before she quite realized what she was doing. “Uh—sorry, your shirt looked too tight. You had all the buttons done up to the top.” She opened the collar a bit. “That’s better isn’t it?” God, she so wanted to kiss his exposed throat.
“Yes, it’s fine. Thank you.” His hands slid along her arms, leaving a tingling trail of warmth.
His touch felt wonderful. Her face heated as she turned away. What’s the matter with me? Trying to hide her confusion, she gestured toward the dining table, the stack of bills and her laptop. “I just have to finish this. Where are we going?”
“It’s still early. We could go to the zoo.”
Oh good, the zoo would be an easy date. “Okay, sounds great. Just give me a few minutes, so I can change and get some comfortable shoes on.”
His eyes lit up at the sight of the produce piled on her table. “Are those vegetables from your garden?”
“Yes, did you know about my garden from my show?”
“You did a spot on how to start a garden, and filmed it right back here.” He walked to her sliding back glass door to peek out. “Your garden is bigger now.”
“Yes, it is.” Audrey smiled, but her gaze lingered on his muscular ass. Her hands itched to caresses—no pinch his butt. “I hate to tell you this, but those segments cost me my neighbors.” Back to work, she told herself, taking a seat. “They hated all the trucks blocking the street, and let me know about it too.”
Determined to distract herself, she started going through her bills.
“What are you doing there?” He walked back then looked over her shoulder.
God, he smells wonderful. I’m not going to be able to concentrate with him so close. “I’m going through my bills, setting them up to be paid through my online bank’s billing system. It saves time, paper, stamps and a tree.”
“Are your checks automatically deposited?”
“Yes, it’s another way to save a tree.” She hit the pay button, waited until it went through then turned off the computer. “Okay, I’m done. I just have to change.”
“Would you mind if I help myself to your produce?” He gestured toward the table.
“Did you take your enzymes?”
“Yes, but I didn’t have enough time to eat breakfast. Paz watched late night movies, and kept us awake all night.” He actually rolled his eyes. “And I slept through the alarm because of it.”
Chuckling, she pictured him in bed with a pillow over his head. Oh shit, naked. She bit her bottom lip at the image. “What kind of TV did they have?”
“There’s cable and satellite TV at our suite, which we don’t have at our domicile.”
“Paz must have been in hog heaven.”
“Uh?” He looked a little blank. “He was happy, but Blade and I weren’t. All I had time for this morning was a shower and a piece of toast before my taxi arrived. The enzymes should still be effective for a little longer.”
The very thought of Keefe naked in a shower had Audrey crossing her legs, tightly. “Well, sure, help yourself. I won’t be long.”
Audrey hurried to her room, shut the door and leaned against it, sighing with relief. I got to control myself, or I’ll be tearing Keefe’s clothes off his body. No-no, now I’m imagining that too.
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Heart-Chronicles-Arcon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0N73OF/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Janice-Seagraves-Author-117551164948239/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janiceseagraves
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link for the grand prize and view this Linky Tools list…
Winners will be posted on both the first (Dianne Venetta) and last
(BloominThyme) websites.
*Prize from Janice Seagraves*
This beautiful butterfly necklace will go to one lucky commenter.
It is similar in design to the one that Keefe gives Audrey in Alien Heart.
The value is no more than five dollars. The prize for those living in the USA or Cannada. If you win and reside outside of this area, a gift card will be substituted and sent via email. The value worth no more than five dollars USA currency.
For the prize: Please leave a comment and answer these two questions. What is your favorite thing about spring, and what is your favorite romance genre?
Blog Post-Alien Heart Brothers
I posted about writing my new release, Alien Heart.
And the brothers who make up the story.
The Arcons are coming
Janice Seagraves, Author 